On the 11th, the Ministry of Defense, which has expressed its intention to develop a "complex defense base" on the site of a former Nippon Steel steelworks in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, explained its development plan to the Kure City Council.
In this, the Ministry of Defense stated, ``Although gunpowder storage is also subject to consideration, if it is built as a main function, it will not become a multi-functional complex defense base.'' was shown.
The Kure City Council meeting was held from 1:00 p.m., and three officials attended, including Masaru Murai, Director of the General Affairs Division of the Ministry of Defense's Regional Cooperation Bureau.
At the outset, the Ministry of Defense stated that Kure is home to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and is close to the U.S. military's Iwakuni base
, making it increasingly important geographically
.
▽We have reiterated our policy to improve three port functions.
He went on to say, ``We have heard from Nippon Steel that it may take more than 10 years to demolish the structure, but we are negotiating with the possibility of using some of the existing buildings.''
He also stated, ``We are considering gunpowder storage as one of the targets for maintenance, but if we build it mainly with gunpowder storage, it will not become a multi-functional 'complex defense base.'' He had a negative opinion about doing so.
In addition, in response to a lawmaker who pointed out, ``If weapons are equipped, the other country may become a target for attack,'' a Ministry of Defense official said, ``Drastic strengthening of defense capabilities is a unilateral change to the status quo through force.'' "It is a way to demonstrate to the outside world that we will not tolerate attacks, and it will actually increase our ability to respond to and deter attacks."
After the meeting, Murai, head of the General Affairs Division of the Ministry of Defense's Regional Cooperation Bureau, told reporters, ``The main facility for explosives storage cannot be a multi-functional complex defense base due to security distance.I cannot say for sure, but I think it will be I think it is possible to get an idea of the scale, even if it is possible."
When reporters asked if the facility would also be used by the U.S. military, he replied, ``It depends on what kind of functions it will be provided with, but since it is a base for the Self-Defense Forces, it will not be maintained for the U.S. military.'' said.
Meanwhile, a protest was held in front of Kure City Hall, with participants chanting, ``Developing a defense base is turning Kure into a military capital again.''